Quick-opening manhole



May 4, 1943. H. H. GARY 2,318,151

QUICK-OPENING MANHOLE Filed July 17, 1941 Suma/nm Hwzwezz H. a my Patented May 4, 1943 UNITED STATES" PATENT OFFICE QUICK-OPENING MANHOLE Hartwell H. Gary, Norfolk, Va.

Application July 17, 1941, Serial No. 402,853 claims. `(ci. 22o-57)y My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in `quick-opening manholes, handholdsand the like, and it has for an object to provide an improved manhole, etc., of this type, embodying a quick-opening cover which, in closing, does not strike the gasket, but on the other hand is brought gradually and adjustably in contact with the gasket, thereby making a tight joint and, at the same time, protecting the gasket from unnecessary wear and tear, to which it is subjected in manholes hitherto generally available.

Further, the invention has for an object to provide a frame adapted to be clamped to the border ring of a manhole, to which frame a yoke is hinged and secured by a latch, the yoke carrying a cap or cover for the manhole and a cam lever for moving the cover to its seat and away from its seat after the yoke has been latched, the cam lever and the cover having cooperative connection by means of a screw joint one element of which is held by the cam of the lever and the other element of which is held by the cover, in virtue of which adjustment may be effected by turning the cap on its axis without disturbing the cam lever, means being provided for keeping the cap or cover from turning after the adjustment has been made.

Again, it is an object topprovide a device of the character stated which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost, a device whose parts'are of rugged construction to reduce breakage'to a minimum, and a device in which the cam lever, when raised to release the cap from its seat, can, after the latch has been released, be used as a handle to aid in swinging the yoke on its hinge to itsopen position.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out hereinafter.

To theV attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends the invention still further resides in the novel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all of which will be rst fully described in the following detailed description, and then be particularly pointed cui; in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan or face view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, parts seing broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 3 3 .of Fig. l.

In the embodiment illustrated the ring `33 is somewhat oval in edge view, although other shapes may be used if desired.

The frame includes a bottom or inner groove 2 for a suitable gasket 3 that engages an edge of the ring 33 to which it is tightly held by bolts 35 hooked through the eyes of lugs 4 and having clips 34 to engage over the other edge of the ring 33 (see Fig. 2). The frame also includes a top or outer groove 5 for the gasket`3l against Awhich the V-edge of the cap or cover 32 seats when the device is in the closed position- The frame has ears 6 for the hinge pin I3 that passes through the ear I2 of the yoke 8. Between the ears 6 is formed a sea-t or stop I5 to be engaged by the seat or stop I4 on the yoke when the yoke is in the open position' (see dotted lines, Fig. 3). V

Diametrically opposite the hinge connection between the yoke 8 and the frame I, the frame has a latch lug 'I to be engaged by a latchv II, which is pivoted at I!) between ears 9 on the free end of the yoke 8. The'latch is so weighted as to assume the latching position by gravity when the yoke is brought into contact with lug 1.

i The yoke is preferably a hollow casting having an inner (bottom) wall andan outer (top) wall.

Within the yoke'apertured bosses I6 and I'I are located along the axis of the yoke and cap. Sldable in the bosses I E and I1 as guide bearings, is the tapped .hub 2l-of the cap or cover 32, the iiange 28 of the hub 21 beingv welded or otherwise secured to the cap as a xture. VThe yoke has sighteholes I8 in its outer wall and keeper-receiving holes I9 in its inner wall. It also has side iianges or wings 2B apertured to receive the pin 2l which passes through the cam lever bore 3D (Figs. 3 and 5). The cam lever 22 has a forked end 23 between the furcations of which the cam 24 is located. Preferably, the cam 24 is formed integrally with the lever.

The cam 24 receives a housing 25 carried by (and preferably formingA an integral part of) the threaded plug 26 which screws into the tapped hub 21.

A keeper 29` is threaded into a hole in the cap 32 and projectsinto one or the other of the holes I9, accordingly as the cover'is adjusted. v v

In use, when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in full lines in Fig. 3,

the cover is secured in the closedposition. To

' Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section of the frame on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of the cam lever per se.

In the drawing, in which like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the gures, I designates the frame which is shaped to t the manhole ring 33.

open the same, lever 22 isswung over to the dotted line position 4(FigllB). This, of course, V4raises parts 25, 25, Z'I'andrcap 32sojthat the cap is lifted from its seat. Latch II is then swungfupfin the direction of the arrow in Fig.l 3 to free the yoke, whereupon the yoke and cap can be swung- (clockwise in Fig. 3) on its hinge pin I3 until stopl I4 restson stop I5, in which position the cover will remain by gravity when the manhole is a horizontal one.

Should the cam action be too soft, i. e., should the cover not be held down tight enough, it is only necessary to raise the yoke, remove keeper I9 and turn cap 32 to screw the hub 21 farther off the plug 2S. The keeper is then replaced. If the action is too hard, the cap is turned in the opposite direction to screw the hub 21 farther onto the plug.

In closing the manhole, the yoke is. lowered until it rests on its supporting lug 1, the cap in the meantime being prevented from coming in contact with the gasket 3| by reason of the position (dotted lines in Fig. 3) of lever 22 and the latch, when released, engages the lug 1. Cam Vlever 2.2 is then rotatedto, the fullV line position (Fig. 3), bringing the cap 32'. tightly in contact with its gasket, butwithout shock or chang, and therebyl greatly lengthening, the service life of ther gasket.

When in the full-line position, Fig. 3, the cam 24 will lock the capv in place by so adjustingV the throw that' with lever 22 moved as far in the direction opposite the arrow inlFig. 3 the cam Will have passedthe dead center.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought that: the construction, operation and advantagesy of the invention; will: be clear to those skilled in the art to which it relates.

WhatV I claim is:

1. A quick-opening manhole, comprising in combination with a frame and means to clamp it in place on, a manhole ringa yoke hinged at one endito said frame, a latch carried by the other end of'the yoke, saidframe having a latchinglug to cooperate with said latch, said frame having a gasket; a cap to Seaton said' gasket to close the manhole, a tapped hub secured tosaid cap, said yoke having. apertured guides for said hub, a cam' lever-pivoted to saidyoka a threaded plug engaging with said' hub, and having, a cam housing engaging withthe cam ofi said cam lever, and a keeper carriedA by said cap and engaging said yoke to hold the capiromswivellinv.

2. In apparatus ofi the character described, the combination comprising a manhole frame, means to hold the` frame in. place, said frame having a gasket-holding groove, a gasket in said groove, a cap to, seat on said gasket, said` frame having hinge-lugs at one'- place and a latch-lug diametrically opposite saidl hinge-lugs, a. yoke having lugs aty each end, one lug to fitf between the frame lugs, a hinge-pin passing through said' lugs, said yoke and said frame havinggstop members to limit the opening movement of said: yoke, a latch carried by said yoke at its other end' for engaging the other lug of said frame to latch the yoke to the frame, said cap having an axially disposed threaded hub, -said yoke having a guide passage to receive-saidhub, a cam lever mountedon said yoke, a cam housing anda plug member cooperatively connected with the cam of said cam lever and having threaded connection with said hub, said cap being capable of being turned on said plug for adjustment purposes, and a removable keeper Ycarried by said cap and engaging with said yoke to hold the cap from swivelling after an adjustment has been made.

3'. In apparatus vof thev class described, the combination with a manhole ring, oiv a frame having a groove containing a packing for contact with an edge of said ring, means to draw the frame and ring together tightly, said frame also having another groove containing a packing, a cap to set on the last-mentioned packing as a closure, said frame having diametrically oppositely disposed lugs, a yoke, means for hingedly connecting one end of said yoke to one of said lugs of the frame, a Weighted latch carried by said yoke to engage with the other of said lugs to holdsaid yoke in place on said frame, and means for suspending said cap from said yoke and for bodily movement toward and from the frame, said suspending means comprising side anges on the yoke, a cam lever pivotally mounted on and between said flanges, a cam housing located between said anges, said, yoke having a guide passagaand a threaded-together plug andV hub connection between said cam housingv and said Cap'.

4.Y In apparatus of the class described, the combination with. a manhole ring, ofY av frame havinga groovecontaining a packing for` contact with an edgel of said ring, means to draw the frame and ring together tightly, said frame also having' another groove containingl a packing, a cap to set on the last-mentioned'` packing as a closure, said frame having diametrically oppositely disposed lugs, a yoke, means for,l hingedly connecting one end ofy said yoke to one of: said lugs of the frame, a weighted latch carried by said yoketoengage with the' other' of said lugs to holdsaid yoke in placeI on said frame, and means for suspending said* cap fromsaid yoke and for bodily movement toward andvfrom the frame, said, suspending' means comprising side flangesgon the-yoke, a ca inlever pivotaljly mounted onA and between said flanges, a earn housing located; between said flanges, saidj yoke having a guide-passage, and a threaded-.together plus and hubconnection between said cam-,housingand saidf cap, saidconnectiony bei gV extensible and contractable by rotating thefca-pon its axis, and a keeper` for releasably interlocking the` cap and yoke to, keep the adjustment 5- Inf a quick-opening manhole, a iframe havins alusandbeine adapted'to beine-clamped in place on amanhole r-ing, a hollow elongated yoke hinged at one end tosaid frame; a latehcarried by the other end of said yoke to engage said lug; a. gasket carried by' said frameto seat on the manhole ring; a second gasket carried by said frame; a cap to seat on said second gasket for closing the manhole; and adjustablemeans cooperative with said` yokefor pressing.Y and securing saidI cap on its seatsaid means comprising an internallyl threaded hub rigidlysecured to said cap and; passing slidably through apertures in saidyoke, a plug threaded into saidhub and projecting above said yoke and terminating in a cam housing, spaced` flanges on saidv cap between which saidf cam-housing lies, a cam lever pivoted between said flanges andv engaging said housing, by virtue of all ofwhich said cap may be adjusted with respect to, said yokev so as to press tightlyon said second gasket regardless of wear; and means to prevent swivelling of said cap` on said hub, said last named means comprising a keeper removably secured` to said cap and projecting freely into a hole in the wall of said yoke.

HARTWELL H, GARY. 

